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accompanied by official kuchaos of the Central Government. But
apart from such cases, it is still to be feared that munitions
of var are occasionally smuggled into China from dependencies
of Great Britain, such as Singapore, or dependencies of France,
such as Indo-China, and other places. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs therefore, with a view to the thorough stoppage of
abuses, have now the honour to propose that His Majesty's Lega-
tion should inform His Majesty's Government with a view to the
issue of telegraphie instructions to Their Excellencies the
Governor of Hongkong and the Governor of the Straits Settlements
regarding munitions of war imported into kongkong or Singapore,
en consignment, that in all future asses of re-shipment onwards
to China, on the one hand the official hushes of the Chinese
Government shall continue to serve as proof, and on the other
hand, the fai Chiao Pu shall notify His Majesty's Legation in
Chine for the information of the Governor concerned, who shall
permit the release of the consignment only after he has aseer-
tained that the matter is in order, failing which he shall in
all cases prohibit shipment of the consignment. In this way
all sources of irregularity will be removed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hope that His Majesty's
Legation will note the above and take metion accordingly, and
have the honour to solicit the favour of a reply.
SEAL OF MINISTRY OF POREIGN APPAIRS.